Admissions policy fears dismissed

The education white paper’s proposal for schools to become their own admissions authorities is unlikely to lead to more complaints about unfair practice, the chief schools adjudicator has told MPs.

Philip Hunter told the Commons’ education and skills select committee that the plan would not lead to an “avalanche” of complaints if councils were vigilant and objected where necessary to schools’ admissions practices.

Meanwhile, a group of Labour MPs and peers has published a document listing its concerns about the white paper.

The group, which includes former education secretary Estelle Morris, say the plans to create self-governing trust schools independent of local authorities could prevent poor pupils from attending the school of their choice.